New recipe for grapes

I like grapes... they're pretty refreshing on a hot day! But I tell you what they are even better covered in almond bark (vanilla) and chopped peanuts (just regular ones, not salted or honey roasted).

It sounds kinda weird right? But I kid you not... it is delicious! And extremely easy! All you do is melt down the almond bark, dip your grape in it (not the entire thing... just about half of it), then dip into the chopped peanuts and set aside!

It is a little messy... and not the most attractive thing I suppose. But they are yummy! Everyone who has tried them has LOVED them! :)

Homemade Father's Day present

Ok so I saw this idea on Pinterest... didn't come up with is on my own... but I did my own design!!

Bubba is modeling the shirt for me!

I used the freezer paper stenciling option I did a while back on this shirt... Again you'll need freezer paper, some sort of ex-acto knife, a hot iron, and some paint!

I used some letter stencils and traced and cut them out. This took FOREVER!!! The cutting part... But I did use my handy-dandy slicer from the container store. That thing is awesome!!! (its the little green thing in the photo above)

First trace whatever you want onto the dull side of the freezer paper (the shiny side with what gets ironed on. And you'll find out that tracing with markers or pencil doesn't work too well on the shiny side anyway!

Here's the front of the shirt.

freezer paper stenciling with paint applied

freezer paper stenciling after paint dries and paper is removed.

Here's the first design with paint applied again.

These roads need some destinations!

I used a q-tip to apply the paint in the smaller spaces.... and  cotton ball for the larger areas. Don't forget to put something inside the shirt before you paint! Otherwise it will bleed through to the other side... I just used some cardboard this time around (didn't want to waste the freezer paper!)

So for Father's Day if JDub is feeling he needs a little TLC... He can wear this shirt and get a backrub from the boys... I realize back rub is really two words... but when you are trying to complete a project with interruptions from two toddlers and a crying baby... sometimes you forget to spell check and then you've already cut stuff out and don't want to start over!! The boys can take a trip to a farm, church, daddy's work, and the playground!

I know I'm posting this prematurely... but I figured someone might need some inspiration this Father's Day!

Angry Bird Birthday!

Wow, I have really been slacking on the blog front... Well I have to admit with 3 kiddos in tow I have my hands more than full. I'm not complaining... I'm just saying its hard to blog when you have a baby attached to your breast, or in your arms, or rocking her with your foot so you can eat with two hands!

Any who, here are a few photos from Ceej's 3rd birthday party that was about a month ago! I of course was running around like a chicken with my head cut off like I usually do at these parties and therefor didn't get nearly as many photos as I was hoping... but here they are!

Each child that attended got a green pig, a bird, and a few cups. They could make their own towers and knock them down with the angry bird! I forgot to take pics of all the different birds I ended up making... These were make with my handy-dandy pom-pom makers, felt, googly eyes and hot glue!

I snagged the big yellow Angry Bird at Wal-mart for $5! The smaller ones were from Walgreens. They have little holes in the bottom where you can stick your finger or a pencil in and flick the birds that way! I figured a sling-shot was a bit much for a 3 year old's party...

We of course had Emi's Treat's make our cute and delicious Angry Bird cookies!

I opted out of making a cake of the party this time around. Instead we have pudding and oreo cups with gummy worms for dessert!

I used plain orange goody bags and cut out the faces of the orange bird with construction paper; I just used a glue stick to adhere. You can see the original orange bird on the stick in the middle :)

I also made these gummy worm bags for each goody bag.

I'd have to say my favorite part were the Angry Bird shirts I made for the family. I didn't make one for Miss M.... I didn't know how big she was going to be at the time of the party! But they turned out pretty cute. I bought some plain colored t-shirts from Wal-Mart and used scrap fabric to make each bird. I also printed out pictures of each bird and cut out the eyes, beak, eyebrows, etc. to make the birds more accurate. I used felt, fleece, and old t-shirts for the materials.

I was hoping the boys would like them... and they do! Bubba wants to wear it every day (even when its dirty). And usually when Ceej sees Bubba wearing his... he immediately wants to go get his on too. It warms a mother's heart! I kid you not... JDub even wore it the other day! I knew I could make him wear it for the party, but he actually put it on and wore it?! Apparently it is very comfortable.

The party overall was crazy! I was really hoping we would be able to have it outside... but Iowa weather was just not having that.... it was freezing!!! so we had it inside. Which was fine, but our house is not big my all means. So it was cozy... and warm.

You see Angry Birds everywhere! And when I saw this sweatshirt I just had to get it for the birthday boy. Ceej also acquired pajamas, a slap bracelet, underwear, tattoos, fruit snacks, you name it, they have it!

And then there were 5 well maybe 6...

Let's see.... what's new in our household...

-We got a new stove!!!

Yes I know its pretty sweet. No longer will I have to figure out how to adjust the directions when it comes to cooking something... No turning it up an extra 15 degrees and cooking for half an hour longer! When it says cook for 11-13 minutes at 375 degrees..... 11 minutes later the food will be ready! YAY! It's the little things that make such a difference...

-I've lost some weight!!!

Yea its not a ton yet... but slowly but surely I'm getting there...

-Oh yea BABY GIRL IS HERE!!!

We couldn't be more thrilled that our baby girl has finally arrived. Ok.. so maybe I'm the most excited b/c she's not inside me anymore!! The delivery was great... probably couldn't have gone any better!

Yes I realize how awful this photo of me is... but honestly... I could care less. I was feeling pretty good right here with my lovely epidural :) Have I mentioned when having babies I highly recommend them?

Granted both of my legs were completely numb... yea it was still great... Contractions started around 1:45 am Thursday and then she was here 9:21 am Friday morning!! I think I will call her Baby M for now... I know the "Baby" part will be gone before I know it... but for now... Baby M it is!

Baby M was 7 lbs 11 oz; 19.5 inches long.  JDub and I had a heck of a time figuring out her middle name... but we finally agreed :) She has the cutest little shaped head and her ears are so tiny!! She resembles her older brothers... but still has unique, girly features. OH and here's the best part!!! SHE'S A RED-HEAD!! I just love it. JDUB is totally outnumbered by us... we're taking over.

Baby M is an eating fool... I tell you what she just eats and eats and eats! But I know its a good thing. She's doing really well sleeping at night... going 3-4 hours in between feedings. So I'm not too much of a zombie. Now of course I'm letting her sleep in bed with me... (yes I know they tell you not to... but whatever, I am her mother and I know best!) and I mean the girls' not even a week old!

Anywho... we are now a family of 5... 6 if you count Mango :) JDub has been off all week to help. Its been awesome. I'm not really sure how I am going to manage w/o him?! I guess I'll figure it out though. We are so blessed :) Thank you God!!!

He might let you bend, but He'll never let you break

Psalm 92:12 The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree.

Can I just tell you how great our God is?! A while back I wrote about reading Joel Osteen's book "Its your Time". Thriving not just surviving Well I have to admit I stopped reading it for whatever reason... but recently with our night-time routine dedicated to God, and NOT tv... I found myself picking it back up! I read an awesome chapter that really hit home with me.

Chapter 13 - Be A Bounce-Back Person

Did you know that palm trees are very resilient? They can withstand hurricane winds and bend for hours on end during a storm and not break?! Crazy right? But get this.... biologists say that during a hurricane when the palm tree is under all the stress from being bent and pushed over, its root system is actually strengthened. They are strengthened so much that it can grow even more! HOW COOL IS THAT?! No wonder they are mentioned in the Bible.... Psalm 92:12 The righteous man will flourish like the palm tree.

I kid you not I have this window cling/decal in my kitchen right now. It came with the boys' fish tank and they just kept taking it off and throwing it on the ground. I vaguely remember picking it up after the 100th time and being like "I'm going to put this up high where the boys can't reach it!" At first I had it in the bathroom... and then for some reason I moved it into the kitchen. Why did I put it in the kitchen? At my sink where I spend A LOT of time throughout the day..... I didn't even think about it until I read that chapter. Coincidence? I think not. How cool is God to plant that palm tree where I would see it every day as a reminder that the righteous will flourish like that palm tree. No matter what stress I'm going through in my life... its all happening for me in order to strengthen myself... in order for me to come out stronger and better than I was before.

I want to plaster palm trees all over my house right now! I want a palm tree tattoo! I might just have to redecorate my bedroom to be a tropical island! I want to flourish... especially when times are tough.

I have to admit I have not been through the toughest storms... I am very blessed. But I do get stressed... most people do. But each time I'm going through something I'm going to try and remember to lean on God and trust His timing. I want to come out stronger in my faith!

Quench your thirst!

So I hadn't been on Pinterest in a while... probably not a bad thing! But I've been browsing it lately and came across a recipe for Cherry Limeade! MMMM I love me some Sonic Cherry Limeade. Problem is they closed down the only Sonic in Cedar Rapids! Not cool... So its been a while since I've had one; and I have been dying of thirst lately. I'm going to blame this nasty cold that has zapped me of my energy and voice (yep... I had/have laryngitis!). Four easy ingredients!

Fill cup with ice, 12 oz Sprite, 3 lime wedges (squeezed) and 1/4 cup of Cherry Juice.

Now the original recipe called for Libby's Cherry Juice... but I think the Hy-Vee brand was just fine. I also didn't measure out 12 oz and 1/4 cup... I just kinda estimated. But its yummy! As you can see I have been enjoying at least 1 and sometimes 2 glasses a day! I think I might have to restock my supplies here soon.

In other news........

Nothing to report on Mango really.... she's just such a pretty kitty! (And silly too...)

Ceej is turning 3!!

I have been slowly preparing for Ceej's upcoming 3rd birthday party! I am a little crazy too... Seeing as how I'm 8 months preggo... this baby's due April 10th and Ceej's party is the 20th... Let's just hope this baby comes a little early..... I think March 27th sounds like a fabulous date myself :) That would be super helpful God... if you could make that happen!? Or I could do an April Fool's baby too... I would love to call up the gparents in the middle of the night and be like "I'm not fooling I swear!!!" I do think I might have to have Cherry Limeade as the drink of choice that day.

Can you tell what the theme is going to be?!

Bubba is quite upset I have not made any red ones yet (seeing as that is his favorite color). I'm working on it though...  Those little buggers are time-consuming?! But so far they are holding up well with 2 boys throwing them around like crazy.

I have to admit I am being a little lax on all the party craziness. Party City has some great decor that I ended up just buying instead of trying to make my own.... I'm just tired y'all! Like I said hopefully this baby comes early on NOT late though.... cross your fingers for me! I have been measuring a week ahead each visit!

Babies, Babies, Baby blankies

Seems like everyone's having babies all around me! My MOPS (Mother's of Pre-Schoolers) group has sooo many new babies... and still more babies to come! We had four pregnant ladies just at my table alone! (two of the four moms now have little girls!!) In preparation for all these babies I have been sewing up a storm.

baby blankets!!!

I think this is one of my favorites... one side was an old sweatshirt with the pocket and the other is fleece. I can just imagine hiding a little toy inside the pocket and seeing the baby try to figure out where it went.

Gotta love zebra print (fleece)! The other side is black satin!

This one is rather large.. but nice and sturdy, made with gray sweatshirt material and fleece. Definitely for a little boy!

More zebra, but this time with a nice burgundy satin. 

Now I need to figure out if I'm keeping one of these for my lil girl..... or making a new one! Who knows :) I get really bored of doing the same blanket over and over, so its been fun mixing and matching fabric with ribbons. I always think I have too much ribbon but I want to go buy more now!

40 days of devotion

I have never been much for giving up something for lent... I dunno.. it just seemed weird to me. Probably b/c I know myself pretty well and I slip up way too easy. But for the record... let it be known I have given up plenty of things (nitrates, egg nog, wine, beer, sushi, the GOOD cold meds that actually work....) being preggo three times now.... and for a lot longer than 40 days at a time! I do feel like I should get some kind of recognition for that... maybe just a "Holla!!!" or "you go girl!"....

All kidding aside.... this year is going to be a little different. Our church is doing this together! Its not just me trying to give something up on my own, but we're working as a family. So, for the next 40 days.... there will be no George before bedtime! Yep.. that's right... our usual, lazy night ritual of watching 22 minutes of uninterrupted Curious George snuggled on the couch with our instant Netflix is coming to an end! At least for 40 days. I have to admit I'm going to miss my lazy parenting... but instead we will be spending that time reading in our Bibles! Our boys just love their Bibles! I have to admit Ceej's has seen better days.... (it was a hand-me-down from Bubba...)

heeeey duct-tape!!

David and Goliath is a definite read each night; one of the boys' favorites. I can't say I blame them either! After all they are little boys, always trying to "get the bad-guys".

I never really thought about what you should do with that time you'd usually spend doing the thing you are giving up. Ya know? I just thought it was enough to stop doing whatever it is... but I get it now. You need to replace that time spent "watching George" with something more fulfilling and meaningful. I know the boys really like watching George, so I have a feeling some nights it might be a struggle. But we're trying to put it in their hearts to want to spend more time with God.

JDub and I are giving some stuff up too. We usually veg out in front of the TV after the boys go down for bed. Most of the time its some show or other... or something on our instant Netflix. But we've decided to forgo that... and instead we'll do our own devotions, or reading. Maybe not for the entire time we'd be watching a movie... but at least for part of the time.

It's been working out pretty well! Technically we have about 34 days left... We've had some great discussions (JDub and I) and the boys don't seem to mind not watching George at night. We still watch him occasionally during the day, but night-time is reserved for God!

Are you giving up anything?!

JDub's bday

Oh happy day!!! JDub is the big 3-0 today!!! I have to say when we first started talking about having children I said I wanted to be done before I turned 30... and JDub agreed... well hey at least we're close! (I still have a year or so... but don't get any ideas!)

We went out to dinner last night, just the two of us... and don't worry he was ID'd for his beer!

I like to pride myself on being a good gift-giver... but since being pregnant and sick for the last two weeks.... I've been lazy. So JDub got an electric toothbrush (hey it was kind of expensive and he brushes too hard so I'm trying to save his gums!!!) a homemade card from the boys (I helped!) and this sweet cake!

a crazy cake with 30 candles and flames

these are sea monsters the boys drew and cut out

I, myself, love Coca-Cola... 

I have to admit it was delicious :) Or is... b/c we have about a half a cake to finish up! I used a boxed cake but the frosting is butter cream made by yours truly! So much better than the kind you get in a tub.

I love you JDub! It's hard to believe you're 30... haha j/k... you really don't look a day over 18! You are the best husband/provider/friend this girl could ever have on this earth. I look forward to many more birthday celebrations with you!

Felt Valentine's envelope

So I did not come up with this idea on my own! (surprise, surprise!) My MOPS group actually shared it with me! I thought it was too cute (and easy) to pass up so I decided to try it.

First I took a sheet of felt and made a slit down the middle.....

Then I folded it in half, leaving the slit along the top and sewed around the edges. Then I trimmed a little bit more to make it more of a pocket.

I forgot to take a pic of this step... but I cut out a triangle and sewed that along the top to make it an envelope! Then I let the boys decide what decorations they wanted to add; and hot-glued those on.

The strawberry says "I love you BERRY much!"

Each day we'll write each other "love notes" and put them in their envelopes! I made the strawberry yesterday... I love cheesy valentines!

It's so important to encourage your kids and let them know how much you love them!!

1 John 4:7-8  Dear friends, let us love one another, for loves comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Oh yea... and this is JDub's idea of a sweet note for the baby........ what a punk!

Junior Kindergarten vs Kindergarten

Ugh.... Ya know when we got preggo with our first born, Bubba, we were expecting him on September 21st!!! And I was thinking sweet! We won't have to worry about that cut-off date when it comes to school! The cut-off is Sept 15th.... he'll be the oldest in his grade... FABULOUS!

Yea... but then he came a month early! Hello late August birthday. Almost 5 years later we have to figure out if we'll put him in Kindergarten or Junior Kindergarten... and honestly its kind of a hard decision! I know whatever we choose he'll be fine. He is such a smart kid. He's known his ABC's since he was 2.... he was potty-trained at 2... He can recognize all his letters, capital and lowercase.... He can write his own name (first letter Capital and the others lowercase... apparently that is a really big deal... so parents of toddlers... when your children start writing their names make sure you do the first letter capital and the rest lowercase.. your future teachers will thank you!)

But.... he's also pretty shy. It takes him a while to warm up to people and open up. His preschool teacher says he is just now opening up at school and its great! (Its January people... he's been in school since August and he's just now coming out of his shell!!).

Kindergarten is alot different now than when I was in school. It's much more academic-oriented... not relationship/playtime focused now. So I'm kinda thinking why make him grow up any sooner than he has to right? I don't really think he could go a whole day in school... it seems preschool (12:45-3:15)  has been long enough this year.... and I'm thinking Junior Kindergarten (12:25-3:25) will be long enough for now. This kid takes so long to eat... and they only have 20 minutes in school?! That is crazy! Ok its not really crazy... I mean I know I eat in under 20 minutes all the time. But yea it we'll have to work on that in the next year or so. It would be great if it was sooner than later though (would make my life easier for sure....).

After talking with a few other moms... and grandmas... I think we've decided to keep him back a year. I was always the youngest in my grade... not that it was terrible or anything, but this way Bubba will be the oldest! I think it would be cooler.  They all say holding their kids back "was the best thing they've ever done". So I'm thinking its a wise decision.

Bubba is so little anyway. Ceej has almost caught up to him in height and weight and he's 20 months younger! So we'll just keep him home for another year and send him to Kindergarten the next!!!

IN OTHER NEWS........

We've been potty-training with Ceej! He's doing great! I'm not gonna lie that first day was awful.... accident after accident... I'm pretty sure we went through 10 pairs of underwear. He's only wet the bed once since we've started..... and he does pretty good at home. We've had some issues with him waiting too long and peeing a little in his underwear before he gets to the bathroom... so we're working on that. But man its nice to not have to change diapers!!!

Tool Pillow, Log Carrier and another apron

This Christmas I didn't go too crazy making that many presents. I did a few here and there... 

oh kiwi tree oh kiwi tree!

log carrier for my dad!

I thought it turned out pretty manly...

ahhh Bumble's attacking our felt tree

for my nephews;  a "tool" pillow and a dinosaur/taggie head

my mom modeling her new apron! it was from the remaining material from my bathrobe. (went with green this time)

missing photos ;(

So I'm not really sure what is going on with all my photos on my posts.... kind of annoying?! Sorry peeps. I swear they were all working on the day I posted them!

In other news... Merry Christmas!!! And happy birthday Jesus :)

Super Hero Pillows

What little boy doesn't love super heroes right?! A little boy from our church turned 4 the other day and I was trying to figure out what kind of present to get him. He's always wearing a batman shirt so I thought Super Hero pillows!

First I printed off the logos I wanted......

I had just enough yellow fleece..... 

I had this old Hard Rock Cafe t-shirt.... I'm almost regretting using it b/c it was my "maternity lounge shirt" of sorts.... but it did go for a good cause! (it was an XL)

POW! BAM! WHACK!

I ended up buying some blue fleece b/c I didn't have any scraps that color! And I also needed some more stuffing! Not bad huh?!